406-nm laser on the C→B band of N2

Abstract

Intense visible laser emission on the 0‐3 transition of the N₂ (C→B) band at 405.9 nm has been observed by exciting Ar/5–10% N₂( p_TOTAL ≈2000 Torr) gas mixtures with a long‐pulse (∼0.5 μs) electron beam of cylindrical symmetry. The experimental apparatus consists of a coaxial diode of 50 cm length and 250 cm³ anode volume driven by a low inductance, ∼250‐kV Marx generator. Lasing on the violet line occurs following bottlenecking of the 0‐1 and 0‐2 ultraviolet laser transitions. With ∼0.8% output coupling at 406 nm, a maximum output energy of 2.2 mJ in a 200‐ns FWHM pulse has been obtained in the violet which is comparable to that extracted (for optimum mirror transmission) on the 358‐ and 380‐nm UV laser lines.